Electric steaming iron



1 1940- L. v. ECKSTEIN 2,218,323

ELECTRIC STEP-MING IRQN Filed Aug. 9, 1939 @atented t. 15, i

atlases enerate eraa- Louis "if. Ecksiein, St. Louis, Mo., asslgnor toErnest F. Po, St. Louis, Mo.

Appilcation Ant 9, 1939, Serial No. 289,251

3 Qiaims.

This invention relates to electric steg irons and the presentapplication is a continuation in part of an application filed by me onor about June 5, 1939, Serial No. 277,510.

An object of the present invention is to improve and simplify theconstruction of electricsteaming irons and materially reduce the cost ofmanufacture thereof, and at the same time increase the strength,durability and length of life of such irons without impairing theefiiciency thereof. a

A further object of the invention is to reduce the amount of mateiralused in the manufacture of electric steaming irons and the amount oflabor required in such manufacture and thereby materially reduce themanufacturing cost of such irons.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric steaming ironwhich will be simple and efiicient and practically foolproof inoperation and which will not burn out or be otherwise renderedinoperative should the iron be left unattended with the current on andno water in the reservoir, whereby the necessity of rebuilding ironsrendered inoperative by" reason of such neglect and improper operationthereof will be avoided.

Other objects of the invention are to shield.

' effectively the inlet end of the plpewhich con- 30 ducts steam fromthe water reservoir in the iron to the pressing surface thereof, and tolocate such steam pipe wholly within the main body of the iron inoontradistinction to the extension of a portion of such pipe into asteam dome or J chamber projecting exteriorly on the main body as hasbeen done heretofore; and to enable steam to be taken directly from thewater reservoir and yet prevent water from entering the steam pipe evenshould the iron be moved rapidly back and forth in a longitudinaldirection or even sidewise with a straight or circular motion, as may bedesirable or necessary when ironing certain garments or fabrics.

A further object of the invention is to insure a uniform flow ofproperly conditioned steam free of drops of water directly to thegarment or other fabrics being ironed to avoid undue wetting of agarment or other article, and to enable such articles to be ironed asrapidly as the articles to condition the same for ironing.

55 receiving said inlet end of the steam pipe and desired withoutrequiring any pre-dampening of having walls arranged to prevent waterfrom splashing into the inlet end of the steam pipe.

Another object of the invention is to enable the aforesaid objects to beaccomplished without employing the anti-splash rebound battle of theaforesaid application by housing the inlet end of the steam pipe withina box lilre casing depending from the detachable cover. plate of theaforesaid application, and adapted to be readily introduced into thebody of the iron in proper association with the inlet end of the steampipe when the detachable cover plate is placed in position to cover theopening in the top wall of the hollow body, said box-like casing beingalso readily removable without disturbing the steam pipe when thedetachable cover plate is removed.

It is still further desired to provide an electric steaming ironincluding a hollow body con stituting a water reservoir in which ahollow casing is disposed at the upper portion of the reservoir belowthe top of the latter and having its bottom wall disposed above thenormal water level of the reservoir and constituting a steam chamber andhaving side and rear walls spaced from the side and rear walls of thereservoir to provide for steam spaces between the side walls and therear wall of the steam chamber casing and the side walls and rear wallof the reservoir, the steam chamber being provided with an inlet toreceive steam from the steam space of the reservoir, and a steam pipearranged within the front portion of the reservoir and having its inletend extending upwardly through the bottom wall of the said steam chamberand terminating adjacent the top of the latter with the oppositeend ofthe steam pipe connecting with the steam outlet of the pressing surface.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described,- illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportions and minor details of construction,within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of an electricsteaming iron constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a. transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

. m. 4 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 ofFig. l, the pipe being removed.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the detachable cover platewiththeportion of the box-like casing removed.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the stamped portion of thebox-like casing.

, In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the, preferredembodiment of the invention, the electric steaming iron comprises in itsconstruction a hollow body or casing i having the conventional form ofan iron body and consisting in the present instance of a single castingof v aluminum or other suitable material, and providing an interiorwater compartment or reservoir 2 which is designed to contain a quantityof. -water to be converted into steam, the preferred level of the waterbeing indicated at 3 in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

The top and bottom walls 4 and 6 and the side and rear walls 6 and I ofthe hollow body are formed integral with one another, therebyeliminating the packing and the fastening means which are necessary whenthe bottom of the body is constructed separate from the walls thereofand is detachably secured to the latter. Also by forming the body as asingle casting, the iron is rendered practically foolproof and will notburn out or become inoperative should it be left with the current on andunattended and without any water in the reservoir.- This willpractically eliminate the necessity of rebuilding electric steamingirons which, due to the aforesaid neglect, become lealqr or otherwiseinoperative.

The steaming iron is provided at the bottom with a shoe or sole plate 8consisting of a gray iron casting coated, plated or otherwise renderedrustproof, but any other suitable heat retaining material, such as caststeel, may be employed in the construction of the shoe, which affordsthe lower or pressing surface 9 of the iron.

The shoe conforms to the configuration of the face of the shoe at themarginal edges thereof and is secured to the same by bolts 10 extendingthrough openings ii in the bottom of the hollow body I and engagingthreaded openings l2 in the chamber l3 for the reception of an electricheating element M which is adapted to convert the water within thereservoir into steam and to heat the shoe or sole plate 8.

The lower face of the bottom wall 5 and the upper face of the shoe 8 areprovided with annular bosses l5 and i6 which have ground contactingsurfaces to form a water-tight fitting surrounding the bolts ill. Thebolts iii are provided with enlarged heads 11 having threaded sockets i8for the reception of the lower threaded ends I8 of screws or bolts 20which pierce a cover plate 2| and secure thesame over an opening 22 inthe top wall 4 of the hollow body of the iron.

Washers 23 are interposed between the heads ll of the bolts l0 and theupper face of the bottom wall 5 of the hollow body, and when the boltsIII are screwed tightly home, a water-tight joint or connection isprovided so that there is no liability of leakage of any water from thereservoir into the compartment l8 which contains the heating element i4.

The bolts or screwslll are provided at their upper ends with heads 24and washers '26 are interposed between the heads 24 of the screws orbolts 20 and the upper face of thecover plate 2| to form a water-tightconnection or joint. Also a packing 26 of suitable material isinterposed between the marginal portions of the cover plate 2i and thetop wall 4 of the body of the iron to reservoir or water compartment.

The electric heating element or unit i4 which may be of any preferredconstruction, is preferably constructed as shown and described in theaforesaid application and it conforms generally to the configuration ofthe base 8. The heating unit receiving compartment 5 formed by recessingthe base of the lower face of the hollow body I terminates short ofthefront end of the iron.

The lower 'face of the bottom wall 6 and the upper face of the shoe 8are recessed at the front endof the iron to provide a tapering steamrec'ei'ving chamber 21 of approximately triangular form provided in itsbottom wall with perforations 28 leading to the pressing surface of theshoe of the iron for the discharge of steam at prevent leakage of wateror steam from the the pressing surface for dampening clothes and otherfabrics being ironed.

Fixed terminals 33 of the electric heating unit extend through the rearportion of the bottom sixteenth of an inch, of the detachable cover.

plate 2 i which is provided with a depending boxlike casing which housesthe upper inlet end of the steam pipe. I

Y The box-like casing, which prevents water from being splashed into theopen inlet end of the steam pipe, may be conveniently constructed byapplying a sheet metal member 36 to the depending shield shown anddescribed in the aforesaid application, and composed of front and rearbafiles or walls 31 and 38 formed integral with and depending from thedetachable cover plate ii. The front depending wall 31 which is providedwith substantially triangular side portions 38, provides convenientmeans for securing the.

sheet metal member 36 in position.

The sheet metal member 36 is stamped or otherwise formed from a singlepiece of sheet metal or other suitable material and it is coniposed of ahorizontal bottom wall 38 and vertical side walls 40 secured to thetriangular side portions of the frontwall 31 by Parker Kalon screws orother 'suitable fastening devices 4|. The side and bottom walls areprovided at the front of the member 36 with inwardly extending marginalflanges 42 and 43 which fit snugly against the front face of thedepending wall or portion 31 of the casing which provides a chamamazestion, any otherform of casing may be employed for protecting orshielding the inlet end of the steam pipe.

The cover plate forms a top wall of the hollow of the steam pipe 43which extends down the sides of the casing and across the bottom thereofto permit any water entering the steam pipe protecting casing to drainquickly therefrom.

The upper portion M of the steam pipe is arranged vertically and extendsthrough an opening in the bottom wall 'of the hollowsteam pipeprotecting casing. The steam pipe protecting casing which is carried asa unit by the detachable cover plate 2| is of a size to pass readilythrough the opening in the top wall of the body of the iron and thevertical up fir portion of the steam pipe is-arranged in proper positionso that when the detachable cover plate is placed on the body of theiron the upper end of the steam pipe will pass through the opening inthe bottom of the hollow casing and will when the parts are assembled,be located closely adjacent the lower face of the cover plate, sumcientclearance being provided to permit steam to pass directly from the waterreservoir into the steam pipe and through the same to the pressingsurface of the iron.

' By shieldingthe upper inlet end of the steam pipe within the dependinghollow casing, steam may be taken direct from the water reservoir andconducted to the pressing surface of the iron without any liability ofdrops of water being contained within the steam discharged upon agarment or other .fabric being ironed and any steam having an excess ofmoisture will be properly conditioned before it is discharged throughthe perforations 28 at the lower pressing surface of the iron.

The bottom wall of the hollow body or casing is provided at the steamreceiving chamber 21 with a boss or enlargement 46 having asubstantially cylindrical bore or opening d! which is arranged at aninclination. The upper portion of the bore or opening 4'7 is tapered andthreaded to receive a tapered threaded portion 48 of a tubular couplingmember 49 having an intermediate polygonal wrench receiving portion 50and a lower cylindrical exteriorly threaded portion 5 I.

The lower portion of the steam pipe 35 extends through the. tubularmember 49 and projects downwardly beyond the lower end thereof and isprovided on its exterior with a rounded sleeve 52 which is placed on thelower end of the steam pipe after the same has been passed through thetubular coupling member.

The sleeve 52 fits against the lower end of the tubular coupling memberand is engaged by an interiorly threaded clamping member 53.

The interiorly threaded clamping member 53 is screwedon the lowercylindrical exteriorly threaded portion of the coupling member 59 andwhen the parts are assembled and screwed tightly together the couplingforms a steam and water-tight joint between the steam pipe and thebottom wall of the water reservoir so that there will be no liabilityofany -water leaking through the coupling into the steam receivingchamber 27. The form of the coupling and the construction andarrangement of the steam pipe 'aflords greater. ease in assembling theseparts and ellminateslall danger of leakage.

In order to further protect the upper end of the steam pipe and preventthe water from splashing into the narrow opening-of the hollow casingwhich shields the upper end of the steam pipe, the iron is equipped witha relatively narrow front depending baiile 54 cast integral with andextending downwardly from the front end of the detachable cover plate 2I. The front depending baffle 54 is approximately v-shaped in crosssection and is provided with forwardly diverging side portions 55forming a transversely rearwa'rdly tapered pocket or cavity to receive.divide and break down the splash at the front end of the iron. v

While the front depending baflle Ed is preferably a part-of the aluminumcasting constituting the cover plate-1i, it may be fixedly mountedwithin the iron in any other desired manner.

When the iron is in use it is moved forwardly and the water within thereservoir follows the contour of the iron and moves upwardly at thefront end thereof and in returning from the contact with the frontbaffle 55. The baiile 54, in dividing the rearwardly flowing water andin breakin down the splash, causes the water to flow downwardly towardsthe base of the iron and the water is .not splashed directly from thefront end of the iron against the hollow casing which protects the upperend of the steam pipe.

The relatively long transversely tapered front surface of the frontbafile 5B checks and blocks the water as the same starts to flowrearwardly from the front end of the iron and thereby materially lessensturbulence of the water. The splashing of the water within the hollowbody due to moving the iron backward and forward is reduced by means ofa transverse baiile 56 that, in this instance,is formed integral withthe side walls of the hollow body although it could be carried by thecover plate as are the front bafile and the hollow casing.

In any event, the baffle 56 is spaced from the bottom wall to provide arelatively large opening or passageway 51 between the lower edge of thebaflie 51 and the bottom wall 5 to provide a. passageway for water, andin this instance, it is also spaced from the top wall of the hollow bodyI to provide a relatively small passageway or open- 7 ing 58 for thepassage of steam.

The transverse bafile 56 is located intermediate of the ends of the body8 slightly in rear of the hollow casing'which shields the inlet end ofthe steam pipe, and the top space or opening 58 will permit free passageof steam from the space in rear of the transverse bame 56. to the spacein front of said bafile 56 and the relatively large opening 57 willpermit water to pass freely into the space in rear of the transversebaffle 56 should the iron be set down upon its heel or rear end. Thiswill prevent any accidental flooding of the hollow casing which protectsthe inlet end of the steam pipe as the space in rear of the hollow Theiron is provided with a handle CI of conventional form and of Bakeliteor other suitable material secured to the top wall 4 of the body I by afront bolt I and by a rear bolt 02 arranged in recesses 63 and N of thefront and rear portions of the handle and engaging threaded socketsi5and ii in the top wall which is preferably thickened at the saidsockets; The front recess i3 is preferably covered by a name plate 61suitably secured to the front portion of the handle.

The hollow body is provided with a filling orifice 68 which is normallyclosed by a screw plug 68 or other suitable closure. The water chamber21 and is discharged at the pressing surface of the iron through theperforations 28.

The steam thus taken directly from the water reservoir is properlyconditioned for ironing garments and other fabrics and the hollowdepending casing which shields the inlet end of the steam pipe preventsany water from splashing into the open upper inlet end of the steam pipeand getting in advance of steam and being discharged through theperforations 28 of the shield.

What is claimed is 1. An electric steaming iron including a hollow bodyconstituting a water reservoir and hav-' ing a pressing surface andprovided in its top with an opening, a cover plate for closing saidopening, a hollow casing constituting a steam chamber depending from thecover plate through said opening into the reservoir and including sidewalls and a bottom wall arranged above the normal level of the water inthe reservoir, and a steam pipe located within the reservoir and at itsupper end extending through the bottom wall of said casing to a pointadjacent the top thereof, said steam chamber casing having means remotefrom the inlet end of the steam pipe to permit the passage of steam fromthe reservoir into the steam chamber to the inlet end of the steam pipeand for permitting water to drain from the interior of the steam chambercasing, the lower end of the steam pipe leading to the pressing surfaceof the iron.

2. An electric steaming ironincluding a hollow body constituting a waterreservoir and provided with a lower pressing surface and having anopening in its top, a cover plate for closing said opening, a hollowcasing constituting a steam chamber of a size to pass through saidopening and depending from the cover plate and including side walls andan inclined bottom wall arranged above the normal level of the waterinthe reservoir, and a steam pipe located within the reservoir and at itsupper end extending through the bottom wall of said casing, said casinghaving means to permit passage of steam from the reservoir into thesteam chamber casing to the inlet end of the steam pipe, the inclinedbottom of the steam casing permitting water to drain from the interiorof the steam chamber casing back into the reservoir, the lower end ofthe steam pipe leading to the pressing surface of the iron.

3. An iron of the character described including a hollow body providedwith a lower pressing surface and forming a water reservoir, said body.being also provided in its top with an opening, a

'cover plate closing said opening, a steam'pipe located within thereservoir for conducting steam directly therefrom to the pressingsurface, said steam pipehaving its inlet end located above the normallevel or the water within the reservoir, and a hollow casing ofsubstantially box-like form depending from and carried by the coverplateand being of a size to pass through the top opening in the hollow bodyand located wholly above {the normal level of the water in thereservoir,

' said hollow casing having a bottom wall provided with'an openingthrough which the steam pipe passes and provided at a point remote fromthe inlet end of the steam pipe with means for permitting steam to passfrom the reservoir to the steam pipe and for permitting water to .drainfrom the interior of the casing.

4. An iron of the character described including a hollow body providedwith a lower pressing surface and having a water reservoir and providedin its top with an opening, a cover plate closing said opening, a steampipe located within the reservoir for conducting steam directlytherefrom to the pressing surface, said steam pipe having its inlet endlocated above the normal water level in the reservoir and a hollowcasing depending from the cover plate and receiving the inlet end of thesteam pipe and comprising front and rear walls formed integral with anddepending from the cover plate, and a member having bottom and sidewalls and rigidly connected with said front wall and substantiallyclosing the space between the front and rear walls at the bottom andsides of the casing.

5. An iron of the character described including a hollow body providedwith a lower pressing surface and having a water reservoir and providedin its top with an opening, a cover plate closing said opening, a steampipe located within the reservoir for conducting steam directlytherefrom to the. pressing surface, said steam pipe having its inlet endlocated above the normal water level in the reservoir and a hollowcasing depending from the cover plate and receiving the inlet end of thesteam pipe and comprising front and rear walls formed integral with anddepending from the cover plate, and a member having bottom and sidewalls-and rigidly connected with said front wall and substantiallyclosing the space between the front and rear walls at the bottom andsides of the casing, said member being slightly spaced from said rearwall to provide a narrow opening at the bottom and sides of the casingat a point remote from the inlet end of the steam pipe.

6. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body constituting awater reservoir and having a pressing surface provided with a steamoutlet at the forward end of the iron, a hollow casing including sidewalls and a bottom wall constituting a steam chamber'arranged at theupper portion of the reservoir below the top of the latter and havingits bottom wall disposed above the normal water level of the reservoirand having the rear and side walls thereof spaced from the rear and sidewalls of the reservoir, leaving steam spaces between the side and rearwalls of the steam'chamber casing and the side and rear walls of thereservoir, the steam chamber casing having a steam inlet therein, meansfor heating the water -in the reservoir to generate steam therein, and asteam pipe confined wholly within the front portion of the reservoir andhaving its inlet end extending upwardly through the bottom wall of thesteam chamber casing and terminating ad- .iacent the top of the latterand having its opposite end connecting with said steam outlet of thepressing surface.

'7. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body constituting awater reservoir, a shoe plate secured to the bottom of said hollow body,a relatively small steam chamber formed between the body and the shoeplate at the forward end of the iron and having an outlet leading to thepressing surface of the shoe plate, a second steam chamber includingside walls and a bottom wall arranged at the upper portion of thereservoir and confined therein below the top of the latter and above thenormal water level of the reservoir and having the rear and side wallsthereof spaced from the rear and side walls of the reservoir, leavingsteam spaces between the side and rear walls of the steam chamber andthe side and rear walls of the reservoir, said second mentioned steamchamber having a steam inlet therein, means for heating the water in thereservoir to generate steam therein, and a steam pipe confined withinthe reservoir at the front end thereof and at its upper end extendingupwardly through the bottom wall of the second mentioned steam chamberwith its upper steam inlet end disposed above the bottom of the latterand having its lower end communicating with the first mentioned steamchamber.

8. An electric steaming iron including a hollow body constituting awater reservoir and having a pressing surface and provided in its topwith an opening, a cover plate for closing said opening, a hollow casingconstituting a steam chamber depending from the cover plate andinsertable through said opening into the reservoir and ineluding sidewalls and a bottom wall arranged above the normal level of the water inthe reservoir, a steam pipe located within the reservoir and at itsupper end extending through the bottom wall of the casing and having itsupper inlet end located within said hollow casing, said hollow casinghaving means remote from the inlet end of the steam pipe to permit thepassage of steam from the reservoir into the steam chamber to the inletend of the steam pipe,'the lower end of the steam pipe leading to thepressing surface of the iron, and a front bafile depending from thecover plate and located in advance of the hollow casing and arranged toprotect the same from the front splash of water due to movements of theiron in use.

LOUIS V. ECKSTEIN.

